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The matter of acceptance is absolutely essential in every persons life. Medical doctors know that if a mother rejects her baby the child is in danger of dying . When the former Soviet Union broke up , adoption agencies were allowed to offer children for adoption to people outside the USSR. The children
seemed normal at first, but by the time they were two or three years old they could not bond with the adoptive parents. Sociologist discovered that the children received only minimal care as infants , little holding and nurturing therefore leaving them unable to bond with their new families.

The opposite of acceptance is rejection, and in today’s bookstores their inventories are filled with books on how to deal with rejection.

Am I accepted ?
Deut 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. NKJV
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In day to day life we encounter challenges that take a few minutes to resolve, others take hours, and some take days. And then there are challenges that take years to resolve. The necessary ingredient to prevail is confidence that whatever the challenge…… eventually we shall prevail !

Dictionary definition: 1, firm trust; reliance. 2, self assurance; boldness. 3, an assured state of mind. 4, a state of trust and intimacy.
Thesaurus: n. assurance, CERTAINTY , positiveness; spirit, boldness, self reliance;

For the child of God, our confidence is based upon God’s Word.
Acts 27:22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. NKJV
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COURAGE — the strength of purpose that enables one to withstand fear or difficulty. Physical courage is based on moral courage—a reliance on the presence and power of God and a commitment to His commandments. Fearlessness in the face of eminent danger.

Every believer has the promise of divine courage.
Prov 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. NKJV

Boldness to preach
Ezek 2:6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. NKJV
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From the word discipline we get the word “Disciple” a learner . People seeking for a degree from some college or university study in a certain discipline. The word discipline means to train by instruction and control. In the biblical concept of discipline there is both a positive and a negative side. From the positive side we get instruction, impartation of knowledge, and training. And from the negative side correction, punishment, and reproof. Therefore, those who refuse to submit to God’s positive discipline by obeying His Word will experience God’s negative discipline through His wrath and judgement.

The Psalmist gives us a wonderful insight into the heart of God.
Ps 94:12 Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; NIV
Job 5:17 “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.  NIV
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Definition
 1, inspire with courage or confidence; lead on; incite. 2, support.   en cour’ag ing, adj. promoting optimism.   en cour’age ment, n

Roget’s College Thesaurus
 strengthen, hearten, fortify, inspirit, cheer, inspire, reassure, rally, comfort;, embolden, incite, urge, instigate; help, foster, promote, advance, advocate.

From time to time we all need encouragement, building up, and praise. The Word of God gives countless examples of instances when regardless of circumstances God’s people received encouragement that helped them overcome their obstacles.

 
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GOODNESS – the quality of being good; praiseworthy character; moral excellence. The Bible speaks often of the goodness of God . God’s goodness consists of righteousness, holiness, justice, kindness, grace, mercy, and love. Goodness is also one of the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize Christian believers . Christians are called to goodness, even as God the Father is perfect and good .

God chooses to reveal His glory through His Goodness. Continue reading →

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The act of excusing or pardoning others in spite of their slights, shortcomings, and errors. As a theological term, forgiveness refers to God’s pardon of the sins of human beings.

No other religious book except the Bible teaches that God completely forgives sin.
Ps 51: 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. NKJV
Isa 38:17 For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. NKJV
Heb 10:, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” NKJV

The imitative come from Him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, NKJV
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Definition:
Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress.

OT application of grace:
In the Old Testament, the supreme example of grace was the redemption of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land. This did not happen because of any merit on Israel’s part, but in spite of their unrighteousness . Although the grace of God is always free and undeserved, it must not be taken for granted.
Deut 9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff necked people. NKJV
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Guidance and leading are a question mark in the minds of many of God’s people. Do I have scripture that guarantees me the right to seek guidance from the Lord? Am I to just do the best I can and hope for the best. No, dear friends the Lord is very much interested in helping us go in the right direction.

The Lord is truly involved in leading His people.
Ex 13:21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. NKJV

In the OT there are no less than four different words to describe how the Lord leads His people.
Isa 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. NKJV

The Word of God invites us to come for guidance. Continue reading →

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Faith is the thing that most pleases God. Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV God is moved by faith , not people’s needs, as we can see we live in a world that has desperate needs on every side. Although God’s love is unconditional , all the promises of God are conditional. That means that there is a corresponding action of faith in order to obtain the promise.

Fight the good fight.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NKJV
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